Calls for stronger regulation of vapes as increasing use becomes "very concerning"

E-cigarettes have been classified as a “harmful product” by the World Health Organisation as leading professionals call on stronger regulations for the devices.

Originally created as a quit smoking tool, vaping has become increasingly used across all ages.

The long-term effects of vaping remain unknown as research is on-going. However, common side effects include headaches, shortness of breath, coughing and irritation in the throat and mouth.

Dr Conor Moore, a member of the Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) says they are "very concerned" about the increasing use of vapes.

“I think there are significant health risks involved with it vaping, I think we have to be careful about that… it is not a safe alternative to smoking, and it would be something that should be avoided in order to avoid the longer-term risks of it associated with health”.

The Armagh based doctor continues saying, “We know there are harmful chemicals within them most obviously the nicotine and is associated with anxiety and mental health issues particularly in younger people”.

"What we would like to see is stronger regulation until we know the safety issues around these products... we would like to see packaging made more standard in the same way tobacco containing products are".

Conchúr who previously smoked, took up vaping as an alternative which has helped relieve him of his smoker’s cough.

Conchúr adds that, “Looking back I probably wouldn’t keep up the vaping just because I found I am smoking more, and it is a massive amount of money goes into vapes for me a month”.

He says, “If I go to do any exercise like running in the gym or playing football you do get a tightness in your chest, it’s not the same as the constant smoking but there are some negative effects with it too”.

With colourful packaging and range of flavours, vapes have become appealing to young adults. The issue of the increasing number of young people vaping was raised at a Children and Young Person’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) Locality Planning Group.

Darren Curtis from CYPSP states that through awareness sessions with practitioners, volunteers and some parents, vaping is “definitely something that has become part of the conversations and in particular over the last six months... we, like everyone else are trying to see what the health implications are and also how can we have conversations with young people”.

A youth worker with Future Proof in Banbridge, Lucinda Love- Teggarty, was the person to raise the issue at Banbridge’s locality planning group after experiencing “plumes of smoke” coming from groups of young people and vaping increasing amongst teenagers.

Lucinda speaks of what encourages young people to pick up the habit saying, “Much like smoking we have to understand that young people are getting enjoyment from this. They are also going outside being social with their friends, there is the pull that way as well and it is the habit of the frequency of redosing... it is constant they are able to ‘toke’ all the time if they wanted too. And the peer pressure is phenomenal.”

For anyone who wishes to quit smoking, the youth worker advises people to use the Public Health Agency’s non-smoking services.

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